Transition meeting

[feynman]

Hi, Our son is moving from pre-school to primary in September. Pre-school have arranged a transition meeting for next month. I know they have asked salt (not sure about ed psyc). However, salt can't make it, and ed pysc is always very busy , and has missed other meeting so I will be surprised if he goes.
I just wondered how important it is if they are there and whether I have any grounds to ask meeting to be rearranged (although I know this will be difficult).As it stands I think there will be us (parents) current senco and head, and senco from new school.
I just wondered what other people have found. Or whether you have any advice. He is statemented if it makes a difference.

Thanks

No advice to give but if its any help we have the transition meeting for ds on Wed so can report back if you want - i think we have the salt, pre-school senco, school senco, inclusion officer, reception teacher and me (mum) attending. Just starting on the statement process for ds.x

To be honest I would say that the most important people are those who will be actively involved.. so probably not the Ed Psych unless something has changed significantly (or his Statement sucks and needs altering..in which case maybe LEA officer too). The SALT would be handy, but as long as you are happy with her report..which you should have well before the meeting... then her attendance is unlikely to be essential.

I have sometimes felt a bit disappointed that the professionals often don;'t turn up ( we have Physio too) but it hasn't really mattered:)

My son has his transition review next week.. his is his Yr 9 review when they add in stuff about college, post school support etc.. scary stuff. We are also having a massive change as he is integrating into a MLD unit with support from his special school and there is a hideous amount of wrangling going on about who is supporting what, funding etc etc and we still only have the staff from Special school, (head, teacher) and those at the unit attending as far as I know. We are supposed to have the LEA officer and a transition SW too but I bet they won't be there!

I think you can ask to reschedule but the reality is you may still not have a full quota of professionals. I have found the numbers dropped as my DS has got older :/

medusa My experience of transition reviews is that for DD (16) complex health needs & PMLD the Ed Psych, Community Medical officer, Adult SW Transition advisor and Connexions turned up at the Yr 9 meeting but other professionals just submitted reports. In subsequent yrs only the Adult SW person has turned up. With DS (14 HF ASD) it was just the school staff & Connexions advisor (who turned up late and didn't add a lot!)
Adult SW will only be involved iif they think your DS will need support from them when he turns 18.
My advice to you is find out as much about what might be available to your DS post school - speak to other parents further on in the process if you can - they are a great source of info - don't wait for the professionals to tell you what is available - they will give you the cheap option not necessarily the best option. Have a clear idea of what you & DS want for the future with regards to continuing education and independent living as well as leisure activities before you go to the Yr 9 meeting. It won't be set in stone, you can adjust the plan in subsequent years but it does pay to do your homework before hand so they know what you are aiming for. (Apologies if I am teaching my grandmother to suck eggs!!)

Hi Fenyman. At my DS's transition meeting from special early years school to mainstream primary everyone and his dog came and it turned into a bit of a scrap! But to be honest, the important people are those who are going to have daily contact at the new school and those who can pass information on from his current setting, so I would want the reception class teacher or reception TA there as well. It would be nice for the EP to attend but so long as you have a recent report with their recommendations that you discuss during the review, that should be ok. Can you take someone for moral support? I always got a bit tearful in those early days and found it helpful to have someone there to remember what was said. Have your questions and concerns about the transition in writing, too easy to forget something important.

You can ask for it to be a CAF instead then they'll HAVE to come or submit a report and in their absence you can allocated them work that they then have to do.

Ok, Will prob ask my mum to come, am going to ask new school if their reception teacher/ta can go. Starlight0 what is caf?
Thanks for the replies everyone.